Philippine Air Force Needs Airborne Early Warning System
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) must equip itself with an airborne early warning and control system, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized. This capability is crucial to fully maximize the effectiveness of the multirole fighter jets recently acquired.
Teodoro explained that simply adding more multirole fighter (MRF) jets is insufficient. “It is not only the MRF per se, which we need to deal with, but also to make the MRFs operational as a force package—meaning to say, you need the AWACS capability,” he stated during a press briefing on Monday.
Understanding the Airborne Early Warning System
The airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) acts as a mobile, long-range radar surveillance and command center. It provides real-time, accurate data on weather, altitude, and early detection of enemy movements. These features enhance the operational effectiveness of fighter jets and improve overall air defense.
Earlier this year, Philippine Air Force officials visited Saab facilities in Sweden to inspect the Saab 340 AWACS platform. At that time, negotiations with Saab focused mainly on acquiring multirole supersonic fighter jets, with no formal talks regarding the AWACS system.
Strategic Importance of AWACS for PAF
Defense Secretary Teodoro noted that many nations have realized the necessity of having AWACS to strengthen their air forces. “A lot of countries have experienced the fact that they are realizing that they need AWACS,” he said.
The addition of AWACS will complement the multirole fighter jets, providing a comprehensive force package that enhances situational awareness and command capabilities in air operations.
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